Straw dispenser



Junev 22 1926.

A. MAZZONI ET AL sTRAw DISPENSER June 22 1926.

A. MAZZONI ET AL -sTRAw DIsENsER Filed May 1,1925 2 Sheets-Shaw?d 2 lli titi

Patented .lune 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STRAW DISPENSER.

application inea may 1, i925. serial no. avast.

rlhis invention relates to dispensing machines and more particularly to a novel device for dispensing soda straws one at a time.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide `a novel device for dispensing soda straws, means being provided tor permitting the convenient extracting of one straw at a time, without the fingering ot the other straws.

Another object of the invention is to provide a soda straw dispensing device embodying a triangular shaped body in plan for receiving the straws having means for normally urging the straws toward the front converged end ot the body and novel means actuated by the user of the device for lifting one straw at a time trom the body through a suitable dispensing opening in the top ot the body'.

A further object ot the invention is to provide a novel dispensing device Y.tor soda straws ot' the above character, which will be durable and ecient in use, one that will be `simple and easy to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a small cost and present a pleasing appearance to the trade.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation ot parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a :front elevation otthe iinproved device,

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the same showing the means .-for urging the straws toward the front converging end ot the body, Y

Figure 3 is a central vertical section through the straw dispenser taken at ri ht angles to Figure 2 illustrating the means 'or permitting the straws to be dispensed oneat at a time trom the body,

Figure t is a horizontal section through the improved device taken on the line 4-4 ot Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a top plan view olf the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved straw dispenser, which comprises a body 1() ot substantial triangular shape in cross section. The body can be formed of any desired material, such as sheet metal or the like and the same includes the rear wall 11, and the side walls 12 which gradually converge toward one another at tne iront ot the body.

The walls 11 and 12 can be secured to or termed on the bottom wall 13 and the body is preferably enlarged at its lower end, as at 1.4 to provide a base so as to prevent the easy tlppnng over ot the device.

A false bott/om is disposed within the body 10 and is arranged in spaced relation to the bottom wall 14 and at an angle thereto. By referring to Figure 3 ot the drawings, it can be seen that the false bottom 15 is inclined downwardly toward the 'liront end ot the body. 'llhis talse bottom conforms to the cross sectional coniiguration oit the body 10, and owing to the inclination ot the bottom 15, the straws tend to naturally grtvitate toward the converged end ot the lin order to further urge the straws toward thc front of the body, a follower plate 16 is provided, the lower edge of the tollower plate is pivoted as at 17 to the rear wall 11 of the body, while the upper edge ot the tollower plate is adapted to engage the straws adjacent their upper ends tor pushing the same toward the front ot the body. An opening 18 is formed in the false bottom 15 at the front end of the body and owing to the inclination ot the side walls 12 ot the body, the leading straw will be normally in alinement with the opening.

The upper end of the body is normally closed by a cover 19 which can be of any suitable shape to enhance the appearance ot the device. As shown the lower end ot the cover or cap is provided -with adepending tlange 20 for engaging the walls ot the body. A hinge 21 is employed for pivotally connecting the cover or cap to the front end ot the body and the cover or cap adjacent to the hinge providedwvith an outlet opening 22 'for the straws. This opening 22 is in substantial vertical alinemcnt with the opening 18 and a lared guide shield 23 is placed around the opening 22 tolacilitate the guiding of the straws dispensed through said opening. Any suitable means can le enr` ployed tor holding or locking the cover or cap in its closed position and it preferred a hasp 2t and a staple 25 can. be provided tor that purpose.

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-to be dispensed in the body.

It is to be noted that when the cover 19 is swung to its open position, that the entire upper end of the body is exposed which will permit the ready placing of the straws rllhe follower plate 16 can be held in its raised position during the initial placing of the straws in the body. If preferred, springs 2G can be coiled around the hinge pin for the follower plate for engaging the plate for normally urging the same in contact with the straws.

The means provided for dispensing one straw at a time from the body is of novel construction and forms an important part of the present invention. As shown the extreme front of the body 10 is provided witl an elongated guide casing 27 in which is slidably mounted a lifting rod 2S. This rod 28 is mounted in suitable guides 2f) carried by the body and the casingl 2T and the lifting rod is further guided in its sliding movement by the handle which is connected to the upper end of the rod and which extends through an elongated guide slot 31 formed in the front wall of the casing 27. The flared portion of the base 14 of the body 10 is provided with a slot 32 through which the lifting rod is adapted to extend and the front portion of the body is provided with a slot 33 which is in alinemcnt with the slot 32. rlhe lower end of the lifting rod 28 is provided with a liftingl hook 3l which is adapted to extend through the opening lb in the false bottom 15. The upper end ot l the hook is preferably pointed and is of a less size than the straws so as to permit the hook to ride into the same.

1 contractile coil spring 35 is placed around the lifting rod 28 and one end of the spring is anchored to the body 11, while the opposite end is anchored to the lifting rod.

In operation of the improved straw dispensing device, the straws are placed in the body through the open end thereof, as herctobefore described and when it is desired to remove a straw therefrom, the handle 3() is grasped and pulled upwardly. This will lift one of the straws through the opening 22, where the same can be readilv grasped and removed from the body. rl`he handle 3() can now be released and the springr 35 will return the same to its normal position allowing another straw to be moved to the front of the body, when the same will fail through the opening 18 and over thc hook 3e. The device can again be operated for removing another straw therefrom.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that a novel soda straw dispensing device has been provided of an exceptionally simple and durable character, which will permit one straw at a time to be dispensed therefrom without the fingering of the other straws.

Changes in details may be made without medew departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but what we claim as new is:

1. A soda straw dispensing device comprising a body triangular shaped in plan, a

false bottom disposed within the body arranged at an incline to the horizontal with its lowermost end facing the front end of the body, means normally urging the straws in the body toward the front end of the body, the upper end of the body being provided adjacent its forward end with a dispensing opening, and means for moving one straw at a time from the body through the opening.

2. A straw dispensing device comprising a body substantially triangular shaped in plan with its converged end disposed foremost, an inclined bottom wall arranged within the body having its lowermost end disposed at the converging end of the body, a cover for the upper end of the body provided adjaccnt its forward end with a dispensing' opening, a lifting rod slidably associated with the front end of the body, and provided with a lifting hook, means normally holdingl the lifting rod in a lowered position beneath the bottom wall, the bottom wall being provided with an opening directly above the lifting hook, and means normally urging the straws toward the C011- verged end of the body.

3. A soda straw dispensing device coinprising a body, an enlarged hollow base formed on the lower end of the body, the body being substantially triangular shaped in plan with the converged end disposed foremost, a cover for the upper end of the body provided with a dispensing opening at the converged end of the body, an inclined supporting wall for the lower end of the straws provided with an opening arranged in direct alinement with the opening in the cover, the lower end of the supporting wall being disposed at the converged end of the body, a casing carried by the converged end of the body and provided with a vertical guide slot, a lifting rod slidably fitted within the casing, an operating handle for the upper endvof the rod disposed in said slot, and a lifting hook formed on the lower end of the rod provided with a. pointed terminal disposed directly beneath the opening.

il, ln a soda straw dispensing device, a body substantially triangular shaped in Cross section having its converged end disposed foremost. an enlarged hollow base formed on the lower end of the body, an

inclined supporting plate for the straws er tending downwardly from the rear wall of the body toward the front of the bod;7 and provided with an opening' at its front end, a cover forA the bodyY provided with a pensing opening at its front end in direct alinement with the first mentioned opening,

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ltltl llltl a flared guide carried by the cover and disposed about the last mentioned opening, a follower plate pivoted at its lower` edge to the rear wall of the body for engaging straws adjacent to the upper end thereof, a guide casing carried by the front of the body provided with a vertical guide Slot, a lifting rod slidabl 4mounted within the casing, a lifting hand e carried by the upper end of the rod arranged in said slot, a lifting hook provided with a pointed terminal arranged in direct alinement with the opening in the supporting plate, and a contractile spring coiled about said lifting rod having its opposite terminals secured respectively to the rod andl to the body. op

5. A soda straw dispensing device including a body substantially triangular-shaped in cross section having its converged end disposed foremost, a false bottom disposed within the body and arranged at an incline to the horizontal with its lowermost end facing the front end of the body, spring means normally urging the straws in the body toward the front end thereof, the upper end of the body being provided adjacent its forward end with a dispensing opening, means for moving one straw at a time from the body through the opening, and spring means for automatically returning the moving means to its normal position.

6. A soda straw dispensing device comprising a body, an enlarged hollow base formed on the lower end of the body, an inclined supporting plate immediately adjacent the upper end of the said base and provided with an opening therein, means normally urging the straws in the body towards the opening in the supporting plate, the upper end -of the body being provided with a dispensing opening, and a lifting rod slidabl associated with the front end of the bodg7 and provided with a lifting hook normally disposed within the said base beneath the said ,opening in the plate, said hook adapted upon vertical movement of the lifting rod to engage one of said straw-s move the same from the body through the. opening in the top thereof,

7, A soda straw dispensing device comprising a body, an enlarged hollow base formedon the lower end of the body, an inclined supporting plate immediately adjacent the upper end of the said base and provided with an opening therein, spring means normally urglng the straws in the body towards the opening in the supporting plate, the upper end of the body being provided with a dispensing opening, a lifting rod slidably associated with the front end of the body and provided with a lifting hook normally disposed within the said base beneath the said opening in the plate, said hook adapted upon vertical movement of the lifting rod to engage one of said straws and movethe same from the body through the opening in the top thereof and spring means for normally causing the lifting hook to return to its normal position beneath the said supporting plate.

In testimony whereof we alx our signatures.

ANGELO MAZZONI. YONIKICHI FUJISHN. 

